Mexico U23 vs France U23 Predictions

• Mexico are unbeaten after eight games in 2021 (W6, D2).
• France had to make squad changes late on.
• France have decided not to call on any senior international regulars for their overage spots.

In-form Mexico can cause France problems

France’s U23s return to the Olympic games for the first time since 1996 and they start their bid for the men’s gold medal with a Group A meeting with Mexico in Tokyo on Thursday.

Les Bleus’ preparations for the tournament have been far from ideal.  Coach Sylvain Ripoli named his initial squad on June 25 but a number of clubs refused to release the players and he had to submit a revised roster. Arsenal-owned William Saliba, Chelsea youngster Malang Sarr and Nice forward Amine Gouiri were among those named in the first squad but missing from the final roster.

Mexico’s build up has been much smoother.  Guadalajara striker Jose Juan Macias, who will spend next season on loan in Spain with Getafe, had to withdraw due to injury but otherwise they have a settled squad and have already played seven games in 2021.  El Tri have already played eight games in 2021 and go into the tournament unbeaten this year after six wins and two draws.

Mexico are the big underdogs in this fixture and we feel it is worth backing them to get a result against what could be a disjointed French outfit.  France opted against taking any of their big names as their overage players after Euro 2020 earlier this summer, but interestingly there are two Mexico-based players in their squad in the shape of veteran striker Andre Pierre-Gignac and former Newcastle and Marseille man Florian Thauvin.  Both play for UANL, although Thauvin has only just joined the club ahead of next season.

A Mexico or draw result in the double chance market looks excellent value in this fixture as a safer bet than going for an outright win.  A 2-1 victory for the Central Americans has some appeal in the correct score market, as Jaime Lozano’s men have just one clean sheet in their last four games.